University of Wollongong and University of
South Australia:
Preliminary Observations on Learning
Management Systems and Libraries
Based on November 2005 Site Visits
Christine Turner
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Program …
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Project Background
Relevant Bits about Higher Ed. in Australia
Relevant Bits about UoW and UniSA
Ways the Library is Embedded in the
Learning Management System (LMS)
Examples
Observations and Q&A
Project Background
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Wrote sabbatical proposal in Fall 2003
Digital Services and Instruction Librarian
When I was young, back in 1981 …
Australia as pioneer in distance education
Literature review
Contacts at University of Wollongong and
University of South Australia
Australia and Higher Education
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20 million people in country size
of continental U.S.
39 gov’t funded universities,
distinct from “colleges”
State/territory gov’ts responsible
for university governance
Federal government produces
frameworks and mandates
audits, e.g. Copyright Australia
Ltd. (“CAL”), Quality Assurance
Framework, Research Quality
Framework
Gov’t allocates funding on the
basis of assessment of
framework criteria
Access to off-campus Internet is
limited by quota allocated to
each student
University of Wollongong
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About 21,000 students at 8 campuses, mostly south
of Sydney, one in Dubai, U.E.A.
Graduate Attributes - #7:“A basic understanding of
information literacy ...”
Adopted WebCT in 1999; now converting 850
subjects from WebCT CE to VISTA
About 40% of subjects use LMS to some degree;
very few are exclusively online, with preference for
“blended” e-learning
Academic Services Division: Library, CEDIR
(Learning Design), Student Services (Learning
Development)
University of South Australia
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About 30,000 students at 5 campuses in South Australia, with
significant off-campus population. Historically a leader in distance
education
About 49% of students come from Equity Groups
“Graduate Qualities - #2: “is prepared for lifelong learning” with
information literacy as indicator
1998 developed homegrown LMS, UniSAnet; Version 2 released
in 2001
Assumes as basic tenet “flexible delivery” ie. Elements of face-toface, print/correspondence, online
Academic Librarians work with FLC/Learning Connection professional developers, online advisors, career advisors, study
advisors.
Library and Learning Management
System (LMS)
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Templates or Pre-Sets
E-Readings
Links from LMS to standalone tutorials or
subject/course/assignment guides
“Embedded” content and assessment
Hybrids
LMS Templates
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UoW – WebCT Vista “Readings & Library
Resources”
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E-Readings
Catalogue
Databases
Resources by Faculty
Teach Yourself
Ask a Librarian
What’s New
UniSA – UniSAnet
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Always E-Readings
Different ones for different programs
Very flexible
E-Readings
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2001 Copyright Act Statute covers digital materials
in educational environment
10% of book/journal or 1 chapter/article with annual
licensing fee based on quantity
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$18million in licensing fees for university sector
(2004?)
Copyright Australia Ltd. (C.A.L.) audits universities
every 2-3 years; monetary penalties and jail
sentences for violations
UoW and UniSA scan articles/chapters, create
records and maintain in catalogue
Library is central clearinghouse for copyright and ereadings management
Links to Tutorials and Guides
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Tutorials or sections of them
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Subjects
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UoW - Research Edge and Others
UniSA – InfoGate and Others
UoW – Resources by Faculty/Subject
UniSA – Subject Resources
Assignments
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UoW – Resources by Topic
UniSA – Virtual Libraries
“Embedded” in LMS Course
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UoW
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Compulsory 1st year law course “Legal Research
& Writing”
Nursing
Informatics – Good Practice Case Study
UniSA
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Business core course “Communication & the
Media” for “Writing the First Essay”
Q&A/Discussion
Christine Turner
Electronic Resources Librarian
University of Massachusetts Amherst
cturner@library.umass.edu